TRENTON
- Criminal Justice Director Vaughn L.
McKoy announced that the Division
of Criminal Justice - Office
of Insurance Fraud Prosecutor has
obtained a State Grand Jury indictment
charging an Essex County Pharmacy and
two of its employees with Medicaid Fraud
and Health Care Claims Fraud for allegedly
bilking the Medicaid Program out of more
than $55,000.

According to Insurance Fraud Prosecutor
Greta Gooden-Brown, Ojah Pharmacy, located
at 42-44 Sussex Ave., East Orange, Essex
County; it’s manager, Verona Boodram,
28, La France Avenue, Bloomfield, Essex
County; and the pharmacy technician, Alpha
Bangoura, 31, Mechanic Street, Orange,
Essex County, were charged with Health
Care Claims Fraud (2nd degree) and two
counts of Medicaid Fraud (3rd degree).
If convicted of all charges, each defendant
faces up to 16 years in state prison and
a fine of up to $180,000. Ojah Pharmacy
also faces permanent exclusion from being
a provider in any federal or state health
care program. The defendants will be ordered
to appear in Essex County Superior Court
for a bail and arraignment hearing on
a date yet to be set by the Court.

The indictment alleges that between June
1, 2002 and Oct. 28, 2004, Verona Boodram,
Bangoura, and the pharmacy billed Medicaid
more than $55,000 worth of prescription
medications that were not dispensed. An
investigation by the Division of Criminal
Justice - Office of Insurance Fraud Prosecutor
determined that Bangoura and Boodram would
entice Medicaid recipients to bring their
prescriptions to Ojah Pharmacy by offering
$10 worth of store merchandise for each
prescription and an additional $10 to
$100 per prescription, depending on the
value of the medication. The investigation
further revealed that neither Boodram
nor Bangoura was a licensed practitioner.

State Investigators Melissa Calkin and
Jon Powers, Auditor Cleair Budhu, and
Deputy Attorney General Riza Dagli were
assigned to the investigation into this
case. DAG Dagli represented the Division
of Criminal Justice - Office of Insurance
Fraud Prosecutor before the State Grand
Jury.

The indictment, which was handed up to
Mercer County Superior Court Judge Maria
M. Sypek on July 14, is merely an accusation.
The defendants are presumed innocent unless
and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable
doubt.